WCCTAC
West Contra Costa Transportation
Advisory Committee
MINUTES
October
28, 2005
The regular meeting
of the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee was called to order
at 7:34 A.M. on Friday, October 28, 2005 by Chair Sharon Brown in the City
Council Chambers of the City of
CALL TO ORDER/SELF INTRODUCTION
PRESENT: Janet Abelson (El Cerrito), Maria Alegria* (Pinole), Irma
Anderson (Richmond), Tom Butt* (Richmond),
Bob Franklin (BART), John Gioia (Contra Costa County), Maria Viramontes
(Richmond), Jerrold Parsons (WestCAT), Joe Wallace (AC Transit), Ed Balico
(Hercules) and Chair Sharon Brown (San Pablo)
ABSENT: None
STAFF: Lisa
Hammon, WCCTAC Managing Director
Linda Young, WCCTAC
Transportation Project Specialist
John Rudolph, WCCTAC
Management Assistant
Nancy Cuneo, WCCTAC
Administrative Analyst
Bryan Otake, Attorney –
Meyers Nave
Hisham Noeimi, Contra
Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA)
* Arrived after Roll Call
PUBLIC COMMENT
RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION AND THANKS FOR MR. EVERETT
JENKINS
Chair Brown presented a Resolution of
Appreciation and Thanks to Everett Jenkins in grateful acknowledgement of his
many years of legal advice and service to the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory
Committee.
Mr. Jenkins noted that the WCCTAC had
begun as the Route 93 Bypass. He
commented that the relationship with the WCCTAC had gone well over the last 15
years and had resulted in many good things for
TRANSPORTATION FUND FOR CLEAN AIR FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT
WCCTAC Transportation Project Specialist Linda
Young announced a successful Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) grant application
for $147,500, which would provide increased accessibility for bicycle and
walking facilities, installing bicycle racks at schools, businesses and at BART
stations in the
In response to Janet Abelson as to whether or
not the technology used at the Plaza BART Station could be provided elsewhere
by the grant, Ms. Young noted that they would look into that system. She advised that there was an area where a
locked bicycle cage could be installed utilizing a smart card for access. She
noted that
On motion by Joe Wallace, seconded by Janet Abelson and carried unanimously, the WCCTAC adopted the Consent Calendar, as follows:
5.
Approved Minutes, Sign-In Sheet and Meeting Summary from
the September 30, 2005 Meeting.
6.
Accepted Employee Staff Reports from the Managing
Director, the Management Assistant, and the Transportation Project Specialist
for October.
7.
Pending Final Approval by Meyers Nave, Authorized the
Chair to Sign the Cooperative Agreement in Substantially the Same Form as
Attached to the Agenda Between WCCTAC, AC Transit and Ove Arup & Partners
for Additional Scope of Work Related to the
8.
Authorized the Chair to Sign Amendment #2 to Agreement
for Professional Consultant Services with Summer Brenner.
9.
Approved the
Wednesday, December 21 Employees work or take vacation day
Thursday, December 22 Employees work or take vacation day
Friday, December 23 Holiday
Monday, December 26 Holiday
Tuesday, December 27 Office closed with pay
Wednesday, December 28 Office closed with pay
Thursday, December 29 Office closed with pay
Friday, December 30 Holiday
Monday, January 2 Holiday
Tuesday, January 3 Employees work or take
vacation day
10.
Received Update on AB 1623.
11.
Received Information on Mobility – Independent
Conference.
12.
Authorized the Chair to Sign Resolution 05-05 Supporting
the Neighborhood House of North Richmond’s Grant Application to Kaiser
Permanente for a “HEAL” Grant.
NEXT
WCCTAC BOARD MEETING
Managing Director
Hammon advised that because of the holidays, the November and December WCCTAC
Board meetings would be combined into one meeting in early December, either
December 2 or December 9.
By consensus, the WCCTAC
Board decided to hold the combined November/December meeting on Friday, December
2, 2005.
Bradley Ward, WCCTAC Treasurer, presented
the Fiscal Year 2004-05 Financial Statements and Audit from Maze &
Associates. He presented the financial
highlights from the document and described a unique budget item this year. He advised that since the WCCTAC was part of
the City of
In response to comments, Mr. Ward advised
that the situation with respect to CalPERS would not represent an impact to the
budget
On motion by Joe
Wallace, seconded by Irma Anderson and carried unanimously, the WCCTAC accepted
the Financial Statements and Audit for FY 04-05.
I-80 FREEWAY CONGESTION – FOLLOW UP TO THE DISCUSSION AT THE SEPTEMBER 30 BOARD MEETING
Managing Director Hammon noted the follow up to the
discussion at the September 30 Board meeting and the recognition that I-80 was
the most congested freeway in the Bay Area during commute hours. She referred to the draft “Op-Ed” piece
crafted for the Chair’s signature to submit to the local media to get some
attention on the issue. She added that
the Board, at its last meeting, had also asked her to start the planning
process for the Transit Summit. To that
end, she advised that she would make contact with like parties in
Ms. Hammon verified that if the Op-Ed piece was approved,
as written, the number of vehicles traveling in the corridor on each weekday
would have to be verified. She referenced
the question of relief, the issue of transportation dollars, the different ways
to ease congestion, and raising the importance of the issue for
Maria Alegria clarified that the intent of the letter was to bring awareness and to lobby the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for more money, how that would be done and where members of the public could go to address those issues.
Ms. Hammon noted that at the last meeting the Board had
asked for a Transit Summit which would provide information and a plan for both
members of the public and
Maria Alegria requested that the health issue that traffic congestion created should also be included in the letter.
Irma Anderson commented that at the last meeting, the reason for asking for the Transit Summit was to let people know what the WCCTAC was doing. She noted the importance of making sure that the public was knowledgeable of what WCCTAC was and what it was doing to address congestion issues prior to the need to ask the public for money to address those issues.
Ed Balico suggested that the information and action items should also be included in the letter, although Ms. Anderson noted that the purpose of the Op-Ed would be to bring the public to a meeting to present the information factually, which information and the details of what was being done to be provided at that meeting.
Bob Franklin suggested that an action column be included in the Op-Ed to show where the public’s support was needed.
In response to Janet Abelson’s comment that the Op-Ed appeared to be long and should be reduced in size, Ms. Hammon stated that 200 to 250 words were typically allowed for an Op-Ed piece. She reiterated that the call to action would be more appropriate at the Transit Summit.
Ms. Hammon referred to the GO CALIFORNIA program to get transportation moving. She suggested that a GO I-80 could play off that discussion, which could be the theme for the Transit Summit, to be scheduled in early 2006. She advised that the Op-Ed piece should also identify the Transit Summit.
By consensus, the WCCTAC Board decided to add a couple of items to the Op-Ed piece with a date in early spring, to be submitted to the local advisory committees as well.
2006 STATE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
(STIP)
Managing Director Hammon stated that the Hercules Rail
Station had been included in the 2006 STIP discussion. She explained that the California Transportation
Commission (CTC) had notified
Ms. Hammon referred to the 2004 STIP Listing in the
WCCTAC packets and the discussion of each of those projects. She noted that Hisham Noeimi had met with the
project sponsors to determine the status of all those projects. Another page in the document showed how the
funds would be used for projects already on the list. There was no call for new projects. She identified the
Hisham Noeimi reported with respect to financial
uncertainty that the CTC had decided to adopt a two year STIP and had indicated
that there would be no projects that would fall under Tier 1 projects, which were
sealed. Tier 2 projects assumed that the
State would obtain funds from Proposition 42 and bond proceedings. Under that estimate,
Mr. Noeimi explained that the first priority was to make
certain that existing projects were fully funded. He reported that three out of the four
projects in
Mr. Noeimi referred to the funding for projects that had
been programmed in the 2004 and the 2006 STIP and stated that in order to meet
those funding targets, there was a desire to delay the State Route 4 East Widening
to SR 160 from fiscal year 2007 to fiscal year 2008. In
Ms. Hammon stated that there were also developer fee
funds listed as part of the overall funding for the Hercules Rail Station. She noted that the update to the developer
fee program in
Ms. Hammon also noted as part of the discussion and included
in one of the handouts to the WCCTAC Board, that there was a financing plan for
the Measure J project that had been discussed and was on the fastrack at the
CCTA given current interest rates. She
stated that
Maria Viramontes stated that Ms. Hammon had raised those
issues at the CCTA meeting. Given the unlikelihood
that the Hercules Rail Station project could be moved through the STIP, she
stated that there would have to be a strategy to find a way to fund that project,
which was $3 million short of its funding plan.
She stated that options to provide funding had been discussed, one
option of which was an increase in
Ms. Hammon referred to a separate attachment to the staff report related to the 2005 update of the Subregional Transportation Mitigation Fee Program (STMP), with 11 projects on that list. She commented that a Del Norte TOD [transit oriented development] project had been added as part of the whole Measure C strategy. Number 3 on that list was Capitol Corridor Improvements, which she explained was actually for the Hercules passenger rail station and other capital improvements along the corridor in West Contra Costa. The funds that had been listed as part of the STIP for the Hercules Rail Station for developer fees was not the full amount that could be dedicated for that project. She added that it was on a list of projects for a developer fee update.
Maria Viramontes advised that the issue would be discussed again in the near future with a recommendation of the APC to the full CCTA. She emphasized the importance of having that information as part of the discussion. She also noted that the letter from the CCTA in the Board packet did articulate the one million setaside for the Hercules project, which was a competitive project.
As a member of the Contra Costa Retirement Board, Ms. Viramontes advised that she would not be present at the November 3 APC meeting. As a result she stated that her alternate, Ed Balico, would need to be in attendance at the APC to vote on the item. It was noted that Maria Alegria and Ed Balico would both be at that meeting.
Ms. Hammon advised that the final vote on the application would be at the full CCTA meeting on November 16.
Irma Anderson suggested that it would behoove the two delegates to work with the other members of the APC to address the issues.
In response to Janet Abelson, Ms. Hammon stated that the recommendation for the developer fees for the rail station was $7.5 million. The category in the program was $13.55 million. Since fees came in over time, there would have to be a process to prioritize the project. She characterized the $7.5 million as a conservative amount and a good recommendation.
Hisham Noeimi stated that the information was $6.5
million of
Maria Viramontes suggested that a recommendation from the WCCTAC would go a long way. She wanted to make a recommendation that one of the requirements for the CC TLC program would be project readiness. She noted that there had been a significant commitment to the Caldecott Tunnel because that project was ready to proceed.
John Gioia verified with Hercules staff that the Capital Corridor had approved the station in Hercules. He wanted to address the issue given a critical shortfall for the project and the need to fill the funding to 2009.
Ms. Hammon noted that the majority of
Janet Abelson did not agree with how the money funds would be allocated; a percentage each year, reported by Ms. Hammon that under the Countywide program there were two parts for bus money in Measure J. There was $44.5 million in the subregional category for bus improvements that had not been identified.
Janet Abelson noted that each category would be separate and one could not be taken from another until the second year. She recommended that the WCCTAC representatives at the CCTA meeting point out the congestion at I-80 and suggest that would get the commuters as far north as possible and off the freeway.
Maria Alegria commented that one of the issues was the new financing plan and the opportunity to advance projects earlier. She suggested that there was no policy in place to determine how to deal with the Measure J Project. She wanted to be protected in terms of projects and programs that would be needed this date to provide some direction as to how the WCCTAC Board would position itself with respect to the financing plan.
John Gioia referred to the bus money in two categories
and commented that
Maria Viramontes
commented that there would have to be some support for the Hercules Rail
Station project. She recommended that
Mr. Balico have Hercules staff identify the work and the status of that work.
Hisham Noeimi
clarified that many of the policies had not been discussed, which discussion
would have to take place over the next year.
He stated that bond proceeds could not be used for operations. Bond proceeds had to be used for capital
projects.
On motion by
Maria Viramontes, seconded by John Gioia and carried unanimously, the WCCTAC recommended
that the CCTA consider support for a priority of criteria for project readiness
with those projects to be considered with higher funding and with a resolution
of support for Hercules to submit for the federal Smart Program.
SUBREGIONAL TRANSPORTATION MITIGATION FEE PROGRAM
(STMP)
Managing Director Hammon referred to the separate attachment identifying the 2005 recommended STMP rates and fees. An updated program would impose a fee of $2,595 for single-family residences to go towards the 11 projects that had earlier been discussed. She advised of the need to update the Cooperative Agreement and the Ordinance along with the administrative details of the project. She explained that she and Bradley Ward had been working on a structure for how the program would be administered.
John Gioia referenced the amounts designated for the
projects and asked how those amounts had been determined. He was particularly concerned with
Ms. Hammon stated that she could ask the consultant to
take another look at
John Gioia asked that the appropriate cost be included. He noted that the funded amount was a larger percent than the unfunded amount and he wanted to look at that situation. He stated that there would be some monies from Measure J, although not enough. He suggested that the problem was that the process was at an early stage and the project was not specifically defined.
Irma Anderson referred to that same project, specifically related to Central Avenue, and suggested that was much higher given the trucks going up Central Avenue when crossing over to 580. She asked for a reevaluation of that area as well.
On motion by Joe
Wallace, seconded by Maria Viramontes and carried unanimously, the WCCTAC
directed staff to make presentation to the WCCTAC cities/County for approval of
the Updated STMP, conditioned upon approval of the Cooperative Agreement and
Ordinance at a later date; and directed staff to finalize details of the
program including the administrative details, Cooperative Agreement and
Ordinance.
Given the upcoming
holidays, Chair Brown urged staff to work with the city councils and the applicable
meeting schedules.
REGIONAL TRAFFIC/TRANSPORTATION IMPACTS OF POTENTIAL
CASINO PROJECTS IN
Managing Director Hammon advised that the Request for
Proposal (RFP) had been distributed. Two
responses had been received for a phased traffic and transportation study for
potential casino projects in
Ms. Hammon reported that there had been a number of
commitments in terms of agencies providing funding for the study. The City of
Janet Abelson verified the potential cost of the study
and clarified that while the City of
Ms. Hammon stated that she did not believe that the
dollar amount was short because
John Gioia concurred and stated that the County would be one of the largest contributors to the study.
Chair Brown requested that commitment from the County in writing. She did not want to see the study paid out of WCCTAC funds.
Joe Wallace asked if transit agencies had contributed to the study. Ms. Hammon reported that none had done so.
Maria Alegria asked if the City of
On motion by
John Gioia, seconded by Maria Viramontes and carried unanimously, the WCCTAC approved
the staff recommendation that the Board approve the interview panel’s
recommendation for a consultant to lead the study after the interviews had been
conducted and that the WCCTAC Chair be authorized to sign a Professional
Consultant Services Agreement with the consultant selected after review and
approval by WCCTAC’s legal services firm, subject to the condition that the County’s
funding be verified in writing.
UPDATE ON BAY AREA REGIONAL RAIL PLAN
Tom Matoff,
Director of Transportation Planning for LTK Engineering Services presented an
update on the Bay Area Regional Plan. He
reported that the study partners in the plan were MTC, the California
High-Speed Rail Authority, the Peninsula Joint Powers Board (Caltrain) and BART
in cooperation to prepare a Bay Area Regional Rail Plan for MTC consideration
and adoption, within short, intermediate and long term horizons,
Mr. Matoff advised
that he was the technical staff consultant to those entities and the consulting
firm hired to do the technical work over the next two years to develop the
plan, which was a merger of two plans. One of the questions was how such a
system would approach the Bay Area from the
The purpose of the
plan was to illuminate the consequences of the alternatives and to tie them
into the long range development of the regional rail system.
Mr. Matoff stated
that there would be support strategies to coordinate resources and leverage
available funds, right of way preservation, a recommended complementary land
use strategy and a funding strategy. As
part of the outreach, a website had been set up at www.bayarearailplan.info and
newsletters had been prepared. He
explained that the conceptual engineering for rail options would be evaluated through
spring and summer 2006, with a draft plan available in early 2007, and with
significant public input and an MTC adoption in 2007.
Joe Wallace
commented that rail was getting much more money than other local services that
actually carried poor people. If the
rail plan needed more money he suggested that other transportation systems in
the state would suffer.
Maria Alegria referred
to the meeting schedule and locations and commented that there was no meeting
location in
Mr. Matoff affirmed
that would be possible. He added that
the outreach budget was not limited to the six meeting dates that had been
identified.
Maria Viramontes commented
that the City of
Mr. Matoff suggested
that the
Janet Abelson emphasized
that the I-80 corridor was the most congested corridor in the entire Bay Area. She questioned the need for a meeting in
In response, Mr. Matoff
stated that there was a large area to cover and the high speed issues could not
be resolved without including the Central Valley and the approach to the Bay
Area from the
Ed Balico noted
with respect to the Hercules Rail Station that it might be nice to publicize
the fact that there was a West County transit center. He wanted that to be publicized
appropriately. He also referenced the
movement to break up the Amtrak system and he asked if that was being
considered.
In response, Mr. Matoff
stated that other than the two long distance trains operating in the corridor,
the Capitol Corridor Service was operated by Amtrak under the State and
governed by the Capital Corridors Agreement.
Backup procedures were being prepared in the event that the Amtrak
system was ultimately broken up. He
suggested that there might be a possibility that a nationwide instrument might
not be there in the future and it would have to be addressed some other way.
Mr. Matoff also
stated that the ability to provide enough trains in Hercules to make that
station worthwhile would be based on the freight growth. He stated that the train companies were
looking at their ability to provide trains to the ports in the future. He suggested that the solution would be for
Hercules to be able to accommodate more trains to increase the demand and
through a network solution that would make is possible to provide better
service to Hercules.
Ms. Hammon emphasized
that the study covered a 50 year window.
She explained that she would be attending the scheduled meetings. In a 50 year window, she suggested that
anything, including w-BART that had not been included in Measure J, might be
possible to consider.
Jerrold Parsons urged
a consideration of what the
Mr. Matoff stated
that anything included in the plan would have to be cost effective. As to the total cost of the program in response
to Mr. Wallace, Mr. Matoff stated that the study was a $2.5 million contract with
$700,000 for technical oversight/public outreach and additional funding for
agency staff.
Bob Franklin commented that while skeptical at first, he was excited with the proposal and was open to all considerations. He stated that the creation of a rail system in the Bay Area to other areas outside the Bay Area was critical for the region.
CORRESPONDENCE/OTHER INFORMATION
There was no
correspondence or additional information other than that which had been
included in the WCCTAC packets.
BOARDMEMBER COMMENTS/REPORTS
Chair Brown
emphasized the need for members to contact his/her alternate if not able to
attend scheduled meetings.
OTHER BUSINESS
Ms. Hammon reported
that the groundbreaking for the Richmond Transit Village Intermodal Station
would be held from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. immediately after the WCCTAC Board
meeting, at
ADJOURNMENT
With no further
business to come before the WCCTAC, Chair Brown adjourned the meeting at 9:29
A.M. to the next meeting, a combined November/December meeting, set for
December 2, 2005, at 7:30 A.M. at the San Pablo City Council Chambers,
Respectfully
submitted,
Anita L.
Tucci-Smith
Minutes Clerk